Lesson 9
Read: Genesis 21:1-21, Romans 4:17-25, John 3:3-6 - www.bible.com/bible/59/gen.21
Abraham:
- Peace-loving
- Deference

God did exactly what He had promised – Sarah became pregnant and she and Abraham became parents in their old age. Abraham was 100 years old when their son was born, and Sarah was 90. Abraham named him Isaac, which means “Laughter.”

Sarah praised God, “The Lord has blessed me with laughter, and all who hear the news that God has finally allowed me to be a mother will laugh for joy with me. Who would have suggested to my husband that I would one day nurse his baby! Yet that’s just what I’m doing – I have given my husband a son in our old age.”

Their baby Isaac grew and was weaned. Abraham threw a big party for all their family and friends on that day.

One day Sarah noticed Ishmael, the son her maid Hagar the Egyptian had given Abraham, making fun of and teasing her son Isaac. Sarah became angry and told Abraham to get rid of the slave woman and her son.

This caused Abraham great pain, because he loved Ishmael his son. But God assured Abraham that He would develop a great nation from his son Ishmael also. However, Abraham’s descendant of promise – Jesus the Messiah – would come through Isaac. The Lord instructed Abraham to do whatever Sarah suggested regarding Hagar and Ishmael. In this situation, Abraham’s character traits of loving peace and deference to his wife Sarah were used by God to achieve His purposes.

Abraham, rising early the next morning, gathered some food and water for Hagar. He put them on her back and sent her away with their son Ishmael. Hagar wandered aimlessly into the heart of the Beersheba desert. When they had drunk all the water, she left Ishmael in the shade of a shrub and went some distance from him, not wanting to watch her son die of thirst. She broke into sobs. Ishmael was also crying.

God heard Ishmael crying. He sent His angel from Heaven to say to Hagar, “Don’t cry, Hagar. Don’t fear, the Lord has heard Ishmael and knows all about the situation he’s in. Get up, go to your son, and hug him. He’s not going to die out here in the desert; I’m going to make a great nation of him.”

God opened her eyes so she could see a well of water. She filled her water-skin and gave Ishmael all the cool water he could drink.

The Lord continued to watch over Ishmael as he grew into manhood. He lived in the Paran Desert and became skilled in archery. Hagar found a wife for him from her homeland, Egypt.

Apply God’s Word to your life:
*In what ways was Isaac’s birth a miracle? (See Romans 4:17-25)
*How is a Christian’s new birth a miracle? (See John 3:3-6)
*Why do you think Ishmael needed to leave?
*How can you work with your family to make your home a happy place?